International Students

International Courses

Our Bachelor courses have 2 exit points, which means that you can study for 1 year and graduate with a Diploma of Arts Psychotherapy / Integrative Psychotherapy, study for 2 years and graduate with an Associate Degree in Arts Psychotherapy / Integrative Psychotherapy – if you don’t want to complete the full Bachelor program. Brochures for the Diploma and Associate Diploma courses can be viewed here Arts Psychotherapy, Integrative Psychotherapy.

Study with the Ikon Institute

Coming to study with the Ikon Institute of Australia gives you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover the unique wonders of Australia.

With our campuses in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne & Adelaide you get to choose where you will explore a new culture, gain a new global perspective and make friends from all over the world.

Why Australia

Australia is a sophisticated, multi-cultural society with a great love of sport, food, music and life in general. Our vast geography offers you with so many unique travel experiences. From the ‘Outback’, our untamed wildness, to the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef to our cosmopolitan cities and our beautiful sandy beaches you will be amazed!

History

We have been teaching in the ‘Wellness’ space for almost 30 years with Australia’s only Psychotherapy Bachelor courses.

As the leader in ’Art Therapy’ education we provide you with a unique education experience you will be part of small intensive cohort of students.

2018 & 2019 CRICOS fees

Our fees are all detailed within our brochures that you can access here

* Please note that our courses have strict cohort sizes and therefore numbers of students in each. Therefore entry is on a first-in basis.

Studying in Australia

Studying overseas is an exciting adventure, and the experiences you have while living in Australia will stay with you for your lifetime. To begin with, you may find it challenging and it will take time to adjust to your new life. You may experience difficulties in cultural, social or academic areas; and find that the values and customs of your home country are very different to those in Australia. Remember that you are not alone and that there is always help available to assist you to settle in.

Quick facts

Australia’s currency is the Australian dollar ($)

A dollar equals 100 cents

Our coins are 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, $1 and $2

Our notes are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100

Do not travel with large amounts of cash

If you bring more than AU$10,000 in cash into Australia you must declare it on the travel information form issued to you on the plane

You can pre-open a bank account.

Bringing Family to Australia If you are intending to bring school aged children with you to Australia, they must go to school full time if aged between 5-18. You will be required to pay school fees for your children, approximately $4160 per year at primary school and $5160 per year at secondary school.

There will also be Visa requirements for your family members. Visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website here or the Study Australia website here for more information.

Working in Australia International students in Australia, on a valid student visa, can work for up to 20 hours per week (Monday to Sunday) while school is in session. There is no limit on the number of hours an international student can work during recognised school vacations or holiday periods. Students are not allowed to begin working until after their course(s) have begun.

The 20-hour-per-week limit does not extend to any work the student is required to undertake as a component of his or her studies or training. Volunteer and unpaid work, however, does count towards the 20 hours. If an international student works more than the Australian restrictions allow, his or her visa may be cancelled. More info

Family members (spouses and children) accompanying the international student under their student visa have the same work rights as the student – 20 hours per week. Unlike the students, family members may not exceed 20 hours per week, even during holidays. For those students obtaining a graduate degree, like a masters degree, their family can work unlimited hours. Like students, family members are not allowed to work until after the student has started his or her course.

Eating Out

Australia is a multicultural nation, and nowhere is this more obvious than in our food culture. The nation is home to a great many nationalities, which, luckily for us, show off their national talents through the delicious form of food.

Deciding where to eat out can be tough, with almost every international taste catered for. You should have no trouble finding a travel favourite or food from back home. Major cities tend to have different cuisines cluster together in areas.

There are also plenty of great options to suit the student budget. Chinatowns and local pubs are often a good bet, offering cheap lunch deals and dinner specials. Serving both food and alcohol, pubs are the great location to bridge the gap between eating out and staying out, and Australian cities are known for their huge amount of pubs.

ClothingOn most campuses, students usually dress informally. Jeans or pants with t-shirts or blouses, sneakers or “running shoes” are standard dress. Shorts are often worn during the summer months and sandals are the most common footwear. Men and women commonly wear shorts and sleeveless t-shirts in summer.A nice jacket or suit and tie for men and appropriate dress for women is necessary for some functions such as formal dinners, a graduation ceremony, etc.For festive occasions, you may want to bring traditional dress and accessories.

Australian Academic Year

Many courses have start dates in either Semester 1 (February – March) or Semester 2 (May – July) and there is often an orientation week for new students prior to the course commencement.

The class timetable follows the school holiday calendar with a two week break in March / April, June/ July, September / October and a long summer holiday from December through to February.

Time Zones

There are three different time zones that stretch across this vast country.

Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST (UTC +10)) covers New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD), Victoria (VIC), the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Tasmania (TAS). Australian Central Standard Time (ACST (UTC +9.5)) covers South Australia (SA) and the Northern Territory (NT).

Money Matters

Australian currency uses the decimal system of dollar and cents. The Australian dollar ($) is a national currency and accepted across all states and territories.

If you plan to transfer funds to Australia then make sure to take notice of exchange rates and any associated fees.

ATMs Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are located everywhere, including at the airport. You can immediately withdraw cash from your overseas bank account at ATMs displaying the Cirrus Logo if your ATM card has international access. Check this with your financial institution before leaving home.

Credit cardsAll major international credit cards are accepted in Australia but often repayments to these cards can only be made in the country where they were issued. Do not rely on being able to get a credit card once you arrive in Australia because this is very difficult due to credit and identification laws.

Electronic transferYou can transfer money into Australia by electronic telegraph or telegraphic transfer at any time. This is a fast option and will take approximately 48 hours, but the bank will charge a fee on every transaction. You are able to pre-open a bank account before you arrive.

Initial ExpensesHere is an example of some of the set up costs you might encounter when you come to Australia.

Cost of Living

DIBP asks you to show that you have $18,610 a year for your living expenses.

If you are coming with family members, for DIBP purposes you must show an extra $6515 a year for a spouse, $3720 for a first child and $2790 for each additional child.

Adjusting to life in Australia

Orientation & Student Services

When to Arrive

Please arrive at least two weeks prior to your start date as specified on the Confirmation of Enrolment. Students who plan to find permanent accommodation after they arrive in Australia should book their temporary accommodation when they book their plane tickets.

Admission and Enrolment

After you return your ‘Acceptance of Offer’ to Ikon, staff will enrol you into your chosen qualification and advise you via email.

Student Services

Most international students look back on the time they spend studying and living in Australia as a challenging yet rewarding adventure. Remember, getting used to anything new or different takes a while. Our friendly staff and students will be waiting to answer your questions and to help you with more information about studying at Ikon and living in Australia once you arrive.

Ikon International Student Orientation

The Ikon International Student Orientation is a compulsory introduction to studying at Ikon. The briefing covers:

Campus services

IKON policies and procedures

Obtaining your student card

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Enrolment

Culture, social and academic adjustment

You will receive your booking confirmation for compulsory orientation by email. All international students must attend their scheduled orientation. There will also be a welcome event.

Campus Facilities

All IKON students have access to a range of on-campus facilities. More information on the campus facilities can be found here.

The Ikon Institute is committed to providing a supportive and positive environment for all members of its community and beyond. This extends to providing student support throughout the entirety of a students’ journey with us. You can view more details about the services we provide here.

Accommodation

We recommend that you decide on where you would like to live, based on the campus you choose to study at. Please click on your preferred state of study for accomodation information and other state based information.Adelaide | Brisbane.

Temporary Accommodation

If you have not arranged long-term accommodation in Australia, it is essential to book temporary accommodation before your arrival. Please make your own temporary accommodation arrangements and bookings, as IKON does not run a temporary accommodation booking service. You can search for temporary accommodation through:

How much will it cost?

The cost of temporary accommodation varies considerably. If you are happy to stay in a backpacker hostel, you might pay between $26 and $35 per night for a bed in a shared dormitory. It might cost between $90 and $200 per night to stay in an apartment. This charge may be for one or two persons, and the surcharge for a third person might be small. Most apartments have minimum stays of at least three nights and some offer discounts for stays of seven or more nights. Students starting their studies in Semester 1 will be arriving during the ‘high season’, so please be aware that many accommodation providers will be charging premium rates for their rooms.

When should I book?

When should I book?We recommend that you book your temporary accommodation at least two weeks before you travel to Australia.

For how long should I book accomodation?

We recommend that you initially book your temporary accommodation for at least a week.

Long-term accommodation?

We recommend that you do not sign any agreement before you come to Australia and have seen the property for yourself.

How to Apply

Once you make an initial enquiry into studying with the Ikon Institute of Australia, our course advisors and support team will take you through the detailed steps from the initial submission of your application to starting the first day of your learning journey!

Here is a snap shot of the application process. Apply using these forms:

Once we process your application, if you meet the education / eligibility requirements, you will be sent a Letter of Offer. At this stage, we invite you to Accept your Offer.You will be sent a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE). You will need to apply for a student visa. You organise your travel and other arrangements in Australia. This is likely to include travel and temporary accomodation. Have a look at the orientation activities. Start Learning!

Entry Requirements

All applicants must satisfy Ikon Institute of Australia’s English language entry requirements by achieving an English test score as follows:

Ikon will be pleased to assist you with assessing your English proficiency as a part of your application. Some exemptions apply.

International Policies

The Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000, or ESOS Act, establishes legislative requirements and standards for the quality assurance of education and training institutions offering courses to international students who are in Australia on a student visa. ESOS also provides tuition fee protection for international students. You can view the ESOS framework here.

The following polices have been designed in the best interest of our international students and the organisation alike, to ensure the highest standard of services provision and learning outcomes possible.

FAQs

Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)

The Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) issues visas for entry into Australia. DIBP provides comprehensive information about student visa requirements and the application process, as well as application document checklists to assist you with your application. visit: www.border.gov.au/Trav/Stud

Migration agents

You can choose to use a migration agent to help you submit your visa application and communicate with DIBP on your behalf. For a list of registered Migration Agents please visit: www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Usin or www.mara.gov.au/

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

In your home country, all matters relating to your student visa are managed by the immigration section of the Australian Diplomatic Mission (the Australian High commission, consulate or Embassy), visit: www.dfat.gov.au/geo/

Education agents

Education agents are experienced in making international student applications and applying for visas. Most do not charge for their service as they collect a commission from the institution you choose to attend.

However, some agents do charge small amounts or offer additional services for which they charge. You can check with the IKON Institute for contact details of agents we recommend.

Agents

Ikon welcomes the opportunity to work with approved education agents from different cultural backgrounds both locally and internationally Through its written policies and procedures, Ikon ensures the integrity and practices of its appointed and prospective agents and endeavours to ensure all communication channels between Ikon and agents is timely, efficient, relevant and transparent.